How to Handle Unfair Calls and Stay True to Sportsmanship

27 June 2025

In sports, there are moments that test your patience, your skill, and above all, your sense of sportsmanship. One of the trickiest situations to navigate is when you feel like you’ve been wronged by an unfair call. Whether you're an athlete, a coach, or a passionate fan, those moments can make your blood boil. Heck, we've all been there—standing on the sidelines or in the middle of the action, convinced the ref just made the worst call in history.

But here’s the thing: how you handle unfair calls says a lot about who you are, not just as an athlete, but as a person. It’s easy to lose your cool, shout, or even throw a tantrum, but that’s not what sportsmanship is about. Staying true to sportsmanship, even when everything feels unfair, is what separates the good from the great. So, how do you keep your cool and stay true to the spirit of the game?

Let’s talk about it.

Understanding the Importance of Sportsmanship

Before we dive into how to handle those nail-biting moments, let's first talk about why sportsmanship matters. Sportsmanship isn’t just about shaking hands after a game or congratulating your opponent. It’s a mindset. It’s about respecting your teammates, your coaches, your opponents, and yes, even the referees.

Think about it: sports are meant to challenge you both physically and mentally. Sometimes, the challenge comes not just from your opponent, but from the game itself. That’s when you need to dig deep and show what you’re made of. Good sportsmanship means playing fair, showing respect, and accepting the outcomes—whether they’re in your favor or not.

Why Unfair Calls Happen

Let’s get real for a moment. Referees, umpires, and officials are human. They make mistakes. Some calls are subjective, meaning what looks like a foul to one person might look like a clean play to another. And sometimes, refs are just in the wrong place at the wrong time, missing crucial plays or interpreting the rules differently than you do.

Does it feel unfair? Absolutely. But does it mean the game is rigged or that they're out to get you? Not necessarily. It’s easy to jump to conclusions in the heat of the moment, but understanding that mistakes happen can help you keep a level head.

How to Handle Unfair Calls

Now that we’ve got the groundwork laid out, let’s jump into the real meat of the issue: how to deal with it when the call doesn’t go your way.

1. Take a Deep Breath

This may sound cliché, but it works. When an unfair call is made, your first instinct might be to react immediately—maybe yell at the ref, slam a ball, or argue with the other team. But here’s the truth: reacting in anger rarely helps. In fact, it usually makes things worse.

Taking a deep breath gives you a moment to collect yourself. It helps calm down that initial rush of frustration and gives you a second to think about the bigger picture. Do you really want to be the player who gets a technical foul because they couldn’t keep their cool?

2. Focus on What You Can Control

One of the most important lessons in sports, and in life, is learning to control what you can control. You can’t change the fact that the ref made a bad call. You can’t go back in time and redo the play. But what you can control is how you respond.

Instead of letting that bad call fester in your mind, focus on the next play. Keep your head in the game. The best athletes are the ones who can shake off adversity and keep performing at a high level, no matter what obstacles are thrown their way.

3. Communicate Respectfully with the Officials

If you feel that the call was truly unfair, you have every right to question it—but do so respectfully. Yelling or being aggressive with the officials will likely lead to penalties or ejections, which could hurt your team even more.

Instead, approach the referee calmly and ask for clarification. “Can you explain what you saw?” or “I’m not sure I understand that call, could you break it down for me?” are perfectly reasonable questions. More often than not, refs will appreciate the respectful approach and may even give you insight that can help for future plays.

4. Be a Role Model for Your Teammates

If you’re a team captain or a more experienced player, how you handle unfair calls doesn’t just affect you—it affects your entire team. Your teammates look up to you, and if they see you losing your cool, they’re more likely to follow suit.

On the flip side, if you handle the situation with poise and demonstrate good sportsmanship, your teammates will be inspired to do the same. This ripple effect can keep your team focused and united, even in the face of adversity.

5. Channel Your Frustration into Performance

Here’s a little secret: frustration can either break you or fuel you. It’s all about how you channel it. Instead of letting a bad call take you out of the game mentally, use it as motivation.

Turn that frustration into laser-sharp focus. Play harder. Play smarter. Let your performance do the talking. Nothing feels better than bouncing back from an unfair call and proving to everyone that you’re stronger than the moment.

6. Accept That Sometimes, Fairness Isn’t Guaranteed

Life’s not always fair, and guess what? Neither is sports. There will be times when things don’t go your way, no matter how hard you try. Maybe the other team gets away with a foul, or maybe the ref makes a mistake that costs you the game.

It’s frustrating, no doubt. But part of being a true athlete is accepting that not everything will be perfect. What matters more is how you handle those imperfections. Are you going to whine about it? Or are you going to rise above it?

The Importance of Reflection After the Game

Once the game is over, it’s a good idea to take some time to reflect on what happened. If the unfair call still bothers you, talk it out with your coach or teammates. Discuss how you can handle similar situations better in the future. Use it as a learning experience rather than a reason to hold a grudge.

Remember, no game is ever won or lost because of one call. Yes, that call might play a role, but a game is made up of dozens, maybe hundreds of moments. Focusing on the bigger picture helps you put things into perspective.

What Can You Learn from Unfair Calls?

Unfair calls, as frustrating as they are, teach us valuable lessons about patience, resilience, and emotional control. They force us to dig deep and stay true to our values, even when we feel wronged. If you can walk away from a game knowing that you gave your all, kept your cool, and showed respect, then you’ve won in more ways than one.

Conclusion: Staying True to Sportsmanship

At the end of the day, how you handle unfair calls reflects your character just as much as your athletic ability. Anyone can play well when things are going smoothly. But it takes a true athlete to stay composed, respectful, and focused when things go sideways.

Unfair calls are part of the game. They’re going to happen. But what you do in those moments can define your legacy. So, the next time the ref makes that head-scratching decision, take a breath, focus on what you can control, and remember why you play the game in the first place.

After all, isn’t the true essence of sports about overcoming challenges, staying humble, and showing respect—win or lose?